[Federal Register Volume 72, Number 70 (Thursday, April 12, 2007)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 18388-18389]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E7-6529]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


New Standards for Mailing Adult Fowl

AGENCY: Postal Service

ACTION: Final rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service revises the requirements for containers 
used for mailing adult chickens. The new standards require all mailable 
adult fowl, including chickens, to be mailed in containers approved by 
the manager of Mailing Standards.

EFFECTIVE DATES: April 12, 2007.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bert Olsen, 202-268-7276.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Postal Service published a proposal in 
the Federal Register (71 FR 32, February 16, 2007) to revise the 
standards for mailing containers when shipping chickens. The revised 
mailing standards would promote the safety of our employees, customers, 
and all mailed adult fowl.

Comments Received

    We received one comment. The commenter stated that no birds should 
be mailed in the United States because of a chance of spreading bird 
diseases.
    We have accepted birds in the mail for many years without incident, 
and we are comfortable in continuing to provide service to bird 
industries as well as individual customers. We are aware of concerns 
associated with handling bird containers in transit, and we will 
continually monitor and revise our mailing requirements to mitigate 
potential risk.
    We adopt the following amendments to Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated 
by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

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Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is amended as follows:

PART 111--[AMENDED]

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1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a); 39 U.S.C. 101, 401, 403, 404, 414, 
416, 3001-3011, 3201-3219, 3403-3406, 3621, 3626, 5001.


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2. Revise the following sections of Mailing Standards of the United 
States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), as follows:

600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

601 Mailability

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9.0 Perishables

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[[Page 18389]]

9.3 Live Animals

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9.3.4 Adult Fowl

    [Revise 9.3.4 as follows:]
    Disease-free adult fowl may be mailed domestically when shipped 
under applicable law in accordance with 601.1.7. Adult chickens, 
turkeys, guinea fowl, doves, pigeons, pheasants, partridges, and quail 
as well as ducks, geese, and swans are mailable as follows:
    a. The mailer must send adult fowl by Express Mail in secure 
containers approved by the manager of Mailing Standards (see 608.8.0 
for address).
    b. The number of birds per parcel must follow the container 
manufacturer limits and each bird must weigh more than 6 ounces.
    c. Indemnity may be paid only for loss, damage, or rifling, and not 
for death of the birds in transit if there is no visible damage to the 
mailing container.
    [Delete 9.3.5, Adult Chickens, and renumber 9.3.6 through 9.3.13 as 
new 9.3.5 through 9.3.12.]
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Neva R. Watson,
Attorney, Legislative.
 [FR Doc. E7-6529 Filed 4-11-07; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 7710-12-P